Delivery for interstitial radiotherapy using hollow seeds

• US 20040102672A1
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biocompatibles Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Worldwide Medical Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Terwilliger, Richard A., Lamoureux, Gary A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,008,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1023 Means for creating a row of seeds, e.g. spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/06 Rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/151 Coating hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/157 Coating linked inserts, e.g. chains
• CPC Class Codes: G21G 4/08 specially adapted for medical application radiation therapy using radioactive sources A61N5/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy uses a seed strand composed of a plurality of tubular shaped, hollow radioactive seeds with a bore. The seed strand as assembled with a material provided in the bore and between the spaced seeds is axially stiff and radially flexible and is bioabsorbable in living tissue.

Claims

1. A prescription method of treating tissue comprising the steps of:

first accepting a tissue treatment plan for the tissue to be treated, which treatment plan specifies a number and spacing of treatment seeds to be provided in a strand;

second creating a treatment strand by threading treatment seeds onto a material; and

third fixing the seeds at intervals on the material, wherein at least some of the intervals can be independently set to a desired length.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said thread fixing step is performed by crimping the material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

wherein said first accepting step accepts a treatment plan that specifies radioactive seeds and optimal spacings between each pair of seeds; and

wherein said second creating step creates strands to the specified optimal spacings prescribed.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

said second creating step is performed positioning radioactive seeds in a mold at the optimal spaces and pouring in a material to mold the radioactive seeds in place.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

said first accepting step accepts a treatment plan created using an imaging device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said first accepting step accepts a treatment plan created using a software program to specify intervals between seed positions.